Page 103 of Truck Off

“Fine. But I’m staying with you.”

“No!” Her protest is quick and fast, and it has me looking over at her in concern. I don’t miss the hint of panic in her expression before she schools her emotions.

I reach for her hand and squeeze it as I pull it over to my lap. “You know I don’t care about where you live. I don’t judge you, and I never will.”

“It’s not that,” she says, but from the way her shoulders are bunched I don’t believe her. “Dad is really sick. He doesn’t like guests.”

I snort at her lame excuse. It’s cute that she thinks I’d fall for that. “Your dad loves me.”

She rolls her eyes. “Not everyone loves you, you know that, right?”

I smile for the first time since seeing Charlie’s body pressed against hers. “True. But your dad does.”

I pull into a random driveway and turn around. She shakes her head like she’s irritated with me, but then adjusts herself so she can rest her head on my shoulder. “Cocky isn’t an attractive look for you.”

“Liar,” I say as I plant a kiss on the top of her head.

It doesn’t take long to reach her trailer. It’s dark. The porch light isn’t on and there are no lights shining from inside. Lina fidgets next to me. I glance over at her after I put my truck in park.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” she says in a rush.

“Oh, I don’t know,” I say with a little too much sarcasm. “Maybe because as soon as the trailer came into view, you tensed. Now you can’t even look me in the eye.”

She retreats to her side of the truck like she’s trying to escape me. My body sags at her reaction.

“Maybe you coming inside isn’t such a good idea,” she whispers.

I reach for her hand and thank fuck when she doesn’t flinch from my touch. “Lina, look at me.” I wait until she turns her beautiful blues to me. “What are you hiding?”

“Nothing!” she says with way too much infliction in her tone. “It’s just … Dad’s sick. He’s probably sleeping and doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

I lift her hand and kiss her knuckles. “Then we’ll be quiet.”

Before she can object, I turn off the truck and slide out. She rushes after me. “Chase, please.”

I ignore her plea and head straight for the door. It isn’t until I reach the doorknob that I notice the flicker of light through the window. I pause because it looks like a candle burning. Stepping aside, I nod my head for Lina to open the door. She hesitates for a moment before she finally sighs and unlocks the door.

“It looks like that last payment to the electric company wasn’t enough, doll.” A gruff voice calls out before we even make it inside. Lina’s eyes fall closed and her body sags. She didn’t want me to hear that.

“Dad.” There’s a hint of begging behind how she speaks. It makes me want to pull her into me and hug her close. Tell her it will be fine. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just hotter than a sinner in hell.” He waves her off as he pushes to his feet. “Chase. I didn’t see you there behind her.”

I reach my hand out to shake his. For someone she insists is too sick for company, his grip is firm. His palm is clammy and as soon as he releases me, he takes a paper towel to his brow. It’s then that I notice just how warm it is inside.

“How long has the power been out?” I ask as I head toward the window to slide it open.

“A few hours. Just after I warmed up dinner. At least I got that done before they flipped us off.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” Lina asks.

“What for?” Her dad’s raspy voice comes out loud and with far more authority than I expected. “You had your knitting. It’s not like you could have done anything except sit here with me.”

“I could have called the electric company.” She insists.

“They’re closed. Ain’t nothin’ happening until tomorrow.”

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